Question

Can anyone explain the actual use of method hiding in C# with a valid example ?

If the method is defined using the new keyword in the derived class, then it cannot be overridden. Then it is the same as creating a fresh method (other than the one mentioned in the base class) with a different name.

Is there any specific reason to use the new keyword?

Answer 1

C# not only supports method overriding, but also method hiding. Simply put, if a method is not overriding the derived method, it is hiding it. A hiding method has to be declared using the new keyword. The correct class definition in the second listing is thus:

    using System;
    namespace Polymorphism
    {
        class A
        {
            public void Foo() { Console.WriteLine("A::Foo()"); }
        }

        class B : A
        {
            public new void Foo() { Console.WriteLine("B::Foo()"); }
        }

        class Test
        {
            static void Main(string[] args)
            {
                A a;
                B b;

                a = new A();
                b = new B();
                a.Foo();  // output --> "A::Foo()"
                b.Foo();  // output --> "B::Foo()"

                a = new B();
                a.Foo();  // output --> "A::Foo()"
            }
        }
    }